Hermon Hitson

Hermon Hitson
Birth name Hermon Lee Hitson
Also known as Herman Hitson
Born (1943-06-07) June 7, 1943
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Genres R&B, soul
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Years active 1960s - present
Labels Atco Records
Associated acts Hermon Hitson & the Rockin' Tonics, Lee Moses, Lonnie Youngblood, Jimi Hendrix

Herman Hitson aka Hermon Hitson is a guitarist from Atlanta. He has played with Garnet Mimms, Joe Tex, Bobby Womack and Wilson Pickett. Hitson has also been at the center of the controversy over the disputed Hendrix "Free Spirit track.

Background

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hitson grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He formed the Sterophonics in 1959 which was his first band. at that time he only knew a few guitar chords but got the chance to play to the audience because his guitar player never turned up. Seeing a positive reaction from the audience he purchases a guitar the next day. After the Stereophonics finished he formed another band called The Rockin' Tonics. The first record he cut "Been So Long" / "Georgia Grind" on Royal Records was plugged by DJ and Hitson did quite well with it.[1]

His song "Love Slipped Thru My Fingers" is a popular Northern Soul track.[2][3][4]

In the late 1980s, Hitson, Freddie Terrell and Raymond Smith formed Family Records Inc. The first artists they signed were Harrison Jones and The Voices of Harmony.[5]

Among the musicians that have either backed or played with Hitson are Mississippi guitarist J.D. Mark who died in 2013,[6][7] and The Lonely Lonely Knights. The Knights had also backed Filmore Slim, Chick Willis, and Ralph “Soul” Jackson.[8]

Controversy

Regarding the controversy over "Free Spirit", questions are asked if Hitson is the actual player and singer on the track or is it Hendrix? Also who does the credit actually belong to.[9] Some tracks that may or may not actually feature Hendrix[10] have Hitson, Lonnie Youngblood, and Lee Moses have playing on them. Some have been produced by John Brantley.[11]

Later years

In 2005, Soul-Tay-Shus Records released You Are Too Much for the Human Heart which was a compilation of singles he recorded from 1961 to 1976. Peter Margasak, reviewer for the Chicago Reader stated that the material on the album ranged from Otis Redding styled songs to tracks similar to James Brown.[12]

In August 2010, Herman Hitson and the Lonely Knights were appearing at the Rock ’n’ Bowl in New Orleans.[13]

Discography

Singles
Name Title Label and cat Year Notes #
Hermon And The Rockin Tonics "Been So Long" / "Georgia Grind" Royal 2871-47
Hermon And The Rockin Tonics "Laughin" / "Find My Baby" Royal 2871-50
Herman Hitson "You Are Too Much For The Human Heart" / "I Got That Will" ATCO Records 45-6566 1968 Arranged by – T. Staff
Produced by – Johnny Brantley[14]
Herman Hitson "Yes You Did" / "Better To Have Loved" Minit 32072 1969 Produced by Johnny Brantley
Arranged by T. Staff
Hermon Hitson "She's A Bad Girl" / "Show Some Sign" Minit 32096 S 1970 Produced by Johnny Brantley
Arranged by Lee Moses[15]
Herman Hitson "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" / "Ain't No Other Way Sweet Rose Records O-25, O-26 1972 [16]
Hermon Hitson "Buckbboard" / "Ayana" (The Baby Song) Hitsong HH-001 1979 Side 1 Produced by Hermon Hitson, Arranged by Hermon Baaqar

Side 2 Produced by Hermon Baaqar, Eddie Maxey
Arranged by Darryl Cooper, Kenny Davis, H. Hitson[17]

CD singles
Title Label and cat Year Notes #
"I Should Have Kept My Big Mouth Closed" Sweet Rose Express Records
"Dream Weaver", "Letters I’ll Never Mail" Sweet Rose Express Records [18]
Albums
Title Label and cat Year Notes #
You Are Too Much for the Human Heart Soul-Tay-Shus Records STS CD 6352 2005 [19][20]
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Sweet Rose Express 2008
Live at The Earl Sweet Rose Express Supporting band: Freddie Terrell and the Buckboard Express Band[21]
Hermon Hitson's – Free Spirit [22]
Brooklyn Soul presents Live In Concert Sweet Rose Express Records 2010 [23]

References

  1. Ponderosa Stomp Herman Hitson
  2. The Story of Northern Soul: A Definitive History of the Dance Scene that Refuses To Die By David Nowell The full playlist of Richard Searling's last ever spot at The Casino in September 1981
  3. Too darn soulful: the story of Northern soul David Nowell Page 159
  4. Soul Underground Feb 2012 Richard Searling: What Happened To Yesterday?
  5. Billboard December 28, 1989 Page 15 General News, New Companies
  6. The Local Voice July 13th, 2013 Local Musician J.D. Mark Passes Away by Newt Rayburn
  7. The Times-Picayune July 15, 2013 Guitarist J.D. Mark, of the Haunted Hearts band and others, has died By Alison Fensterstock, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
  8. OffBeat Magazine August 10, 2012 Lonely Lonely Knights Hit Frenchmen Street by John Swenson
  9. Gambit April 29, 2008 Rhythm Section, Headliner Notes, Herman Hitson By Alison Fensterstock
  10. Early Hendrix Lonnie Youngblood
  11. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Chapter 4
  12. Chicago Reader June 21, 2007 Arts & Culture | Theater Critic's Choice, Herman Hitson by By Peter Margasak
  13. The Times-Picayune August 20, 2010 A Dash Rip Rock CD release party, Joe Krown for free and more music for Aug. 20-26, SATURDAY, Aug. 21 by Keith Spera
  14. Discogs Herman Hitson – You Are Too Much For The Human Heart / I Got That Will
  15. 45Cat Herman Hitson - Discography
  16. Discogs Herman Hitson – You Can't Keep A Good Man Down / Ain't No Other Way
  17. 45Cat Herman Hitson - Discography
  18. Hermon Hitson – The Soul of Soul Hermon Hitson – Music and More!
  19. EB Records Herman Hitson - You Are Too Much For The Human Heart: Rare & Unreleased Georgia Soul 19611976 Soul-Tay-Shus
  20. Rate Your Music You Are Too Much for the Human Heart
  21. Hermon Hitson – The Soul of Soul Hermon Hitson – Music and More!
  22. Hermon Hitson – The Soul of Soul Hermon Hitson – Music and More!
  23. CD Baby Brooklyn Soul "Live In Concert" by Hermon Hitson

External links

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